News

MD Duncan Crawley to Leave Securefast

Securefast MD Duncan Crawley has decided to leave the company after almost 25 years of service which has seen the business grow from a lock manufacturer to a leading UK access control and mechanical locking manufacturer and supplier. Earlier this year Duncan sold his share of the business to the OSL Group and has spent the last few months helping with the smooth transition.

New Export Manager

With the acquisition of Securefast by the OSL Group, Dave Pickering who has worked for Securefast for 5 years has taken on the role as Export Sale Manager for Western Europe as well as continuing to look after Scotland and a number of National Electrical Wholesalers in the UK. Dave has over 30 years of knowledge and experience in the security and access control sector and his new role will be to continue to promote Securefast products as well as the CQR range of security product including intruder systems and cabling.

Securefast Achieves Another Clean Sheet

NQA visited the company recently to audit the Quality Management System ISO 9001:2015 and for the 9th year no corrective actions or recommendations were raised. Mark Pathy, Regional Assessor for NQA was very impressed with the organisation procedures, how we monitor KPI’s, how co-operative the staff were and how they play an active part in ensuring that the procedures are followed and their commitment to both the quality and customer services. Mark commented “The organisation’s context is well defined; the leadership is effectively demonstrated and commitment levels are evident throughout the company”.

Securefast Supports Cavendish Cancer Care

On Saturday 18th June 2022 members of Securefast set off to climb Snowdon, North Wales to raise money for Cavendish Cancer Care which the OSL Group are supporting this year. With an early morning start from the Midlands, the team started the climb at 9.00 am encouraging each other to reach the peak which they did by midday. With ages ranging from 28 – 70 years old the team have done fantastic in raising £1,950 for the charity to date.

Cidron QR Code Reader

Cidron Slimline readers are versatile and can easily be configured to read up to two different card data objects and handles both 7-byte and 4-byte MIFARE UID's at the same time as well as MIFARE Random UID and 8 byte iCLASS UID. This means that you can read credentials from different populations and it also gives the possibility of, in a controlled manner, upgrading from less secure technologies to more secure applications like MIFARE DESFire.

Cidron Readers from Securefast

Cidron Slimline readers are versatile and can easily be configured to read up to two different card data objects and handles both 7-byte and 4-byte MIFARE UID's at the same time as well as MIFARE Random UID and 8 byte iCLASS UID. This means that you can read credentials from different populations and it also gives the possibility of, in a controlled manner, upgrading from less secure technologies to more secure applications like MIFARE DESFire.

Securefast Give CPD to Customers in Ireland

Kevin O'Reilly, Securefast's Technical Director presented to customers of Securefast in Dublin, Ireland on the subject of Electrically Controlled Exit Systems and what is allowed to be used on escape and final exit doors under EN13637. With the latest issue of PAS67 by the Private Security Authority it is important that locksmiths and installers are aware of what is acceptable and the options available.

Securefast Head for the Summit

On June 18th 2022 employees at Securefast will be walking up and down Snowdon in North Wales to raise funds for Cavendish Cancer Care, who support local people who are living with Cancer. The charity gives patients and their families support with both the emotional strain of cancer and the physical side effects of the illness and its treatment.

Sheffield-based manufacturer OSL Group has acquired Securefast PLC

The acquisition of Securefast takes the number of businesses within the OSL Group to five and further widens the company’s range of products and services, which span the engineering, rail, automotive, and security industries.Securefast offers a range of locking solutions, including fire and security products under their leading brands Deedlock and Entra+, as well as a complete technical support service with qualified engineers offering specification and scheduling services as standard.

Another Successful Breakfast Meeting

Securefast’s Keith Clare-Brown was invited to attend the breakfast meeting at the Rexel Branch in Colchester on Friday 25th March 2022. Keith had many discussions with the Rexel customers about the products that Securefast offer via the Rexel Group and was able to demonstrate many of the fire products that are available including the Fike fire panels which are available as 2, 4 and 8 zone, the new door entry systems and the standalone access control kits.

New Power Supply Unit for Hold-Open Magnetic Retainers

Electro-magnetic door holders, also called fire door holders or fire door retainers, hold fire doors open safely and legally. The Electro-magnetic door holders will allow a fire door to be held open electro-magnetically allowing a free flow of traffic. In the event of a fire (or power failure), the magnet is released and the door closer will close the fire door securely to help limit the spread of fire throughout a building. This type of door control is ideal for busy corridor doors such as those found in hospitals, care homes, hotels and schools.

Access Control on Escape Doors

For over 20 years since EN1125 panic exit devices operated by a horizontal bar and EN179 emergency exit devices operated by a lever handle or push pad was introduced the priority has been to egress from an area / building with one action of the device fitted to the door. However, balancing emergency escape with security is often challenging. While safety should take priority previous standards EN1125 and EN179 for escape doors have made it difficult to reduce security risks. With the access control market growing and more electric hardware products being used on fire doors and escape doors, the standard EN13637 was introduced. With the standard EN13637 it now means that electrical locking products such as electro-magnetic locks, electric releases, electrical panic hardware and electric locks can be used on escape doors. EN13637 is not intended to replace EN1125 or EN179 but to provide additional options to control unauthorised use of escape routes and escape doors.

New website gets great reviews

Securefast’s new website, that was launched late last year has been well received by customers and visitors as product can be easily found via the search feature or the product sections, fire test and assessment reports can be viewed or downloaded, with datasheets and instructions also available to download.

Securefast Supports Rexel Breakfast Meeting

Following a difficult two years with the Covid-19 virus and representatives not able to visit customers, trade shows having been postponed and breakfast meetings stopped. The Rexel Branch in Bromley finally put on their popular breakfast meeting on Wednesday 2nd February. Securefast Director Keith Clare-Brown attended the session and displayed a number of products including the popular electro-magnetic locks, the AL900 Electric Release, access control kits, fire panels and fire alarm detectors.

AL900 Series Certified for Fire and Performance

The Deedlock AL900 series of Electric Releases have been certified to the EN 14846 performance standard and fire rated to EN1634-1 for 30 minutes on timber doors. The product has also been fire rated to BS 476 with a timber door company for 60 minutes duration.

Securefast launches 60 Second Intro videos

In order to help promote products, important information of standards relative to products and help to show the range of product available from Securefast we are launching a series of videos called “60 Second Intro”.

Securefast Products Featured in New Franchi Security Showroom

Franchi plc based in London have opened a new showroom which includes many of the Securefast ranges of product such as the new VI-LS60A smart wireless pull handle, home security cameras, the new door entry system, a number of mechanical digital locks and many more access control items and systems.

Feature Packed Wireless Smart Pull Handle From Securefast

Following the successful trade exhibitions at The Security Event, NEC Birmingham and The Independent Hotel Show, Olympia London Securefast launched the latest addition to its wide choice of access control solutions with the VI-Range Wireless Smart Pull Handle for use on a wide range of single and double doors, both timber or glass door applications, opening inward or outward.

Securefast Wins Security Product of the Year

The Securefast Solar Powered Wi-Fi Camera (AB080-20) has won the Security Product of the Year at DIY Week Awards 2021. The honour was awarded for the best security product released in 2021 which demonstrated great innovation and design for the security sector.

Securefast Solar Powered Wi-Fi Camera Finalist in the DIY Week Awards

Securefast have made it to the final four of DIY Week Awards in the Security Product of the Year Section. The award will be made to the very best security product that has advanced the DIY industry this past year.

Benefits of Using Securefast Fire Rated Digital Locks

When fitting a Digital Push Button Lock to an internal door you must check to identify if the door is fire rated. If so, it is a legal requirement to ensure the lock is fire rated to EN1634-1.

Fire Rated Products from Securefast

Following the Grenfell Tower disaster many specifiers, local authorities and building managers now place high on their agenda the elimination of deaths from fires and practising fire protection is of the most importance.

Securefast in the Final stages of EW Awards 2021

Securefast have made it to the final two of Electrical Wholesalers Awards in the Safety and Security section. The awarded will finally be made to the very best brand that manufacturers products including, but not limited to, fire protection products, detectors, doorbells, alarms and CCTV etc, available to purchase through electrical wholesalers.

Securefast New Website Is Now Live www.securefast.co.uk

We are excited to announce the launch of our newly designed website www.securefast.co.uk. Along with a new look, we have included a host of new and exciting features that will make visiting the site easier and more interactive.

Electro-Magnetic Locks the Correct Specification

With the requirement for certificated products since the Grenfell Tower disaster, Securefast based in Cannock, Staffordshire, have seen an increase in sales for their electro-magnetic locks, with many clients, contractors and door manufacturers requesting the correct fire test and performance test evidence.

Kevin Farrell, Purchase Manager for Securefast celebrates 40 years of service this month

Kevin joined the company straight from school in 1980 with the then Jack Appleton Lock Company working in the production area as a junior. He progressed though the ranks to become the Quality Manager.

Kevin O Reilly Awarded IAI Fellowship Award

At the Institute of Architectural Ironmongery Awards Evening held at the Hallmark Hotel, Gloucester on Saturday 7th March, Kevin O’Reilly, Operations and Technical Director for Securefast was awarded the IAI Fellowship Award, which was presented by Debbie Cannon, the IAI Chairperson.

AL900 Electric Release an All-In-One Solution for Fire & Security Doors

The Securefast AL900 series of electric releases offer are an ANSI style door release, complete with stainless-steel short or long faceplates for use in metal or timber door frame applications. The electric release has been fire rated to EN1634-1 for 30 minutes timber doors both opening inward and outward, has been performance tested to EN14846 with Securefast commercial locks and CE marked having EMC tested to EN61000.

Intumescent or Not?

Many specifiers will be aware that a number of building hardware products for fire-resisting doors and doorsets are mandatory if the hardware is tested to a harmonised standard, such as single axis hinges, controlled door closers, emergency & panic exit devices, electrically powered hold open devices, electro-mechanical operated locks, mechanical locks and latches.